Research Confirms Importance Of Vision To Learning (NAPSA)—According to a recent study, vision problems may have a greater effect on children’s school performance than poverty and low socioeconomicstatus. The three-year study by W.C. Maples, O.D., FCOVD, a researcher and professor at the Northeastern State University College of Optometry, found that visual perceptual and eye movement abilities are strong predictors of academic scores on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, a standardized test for measuring academic ability. Preliminary results of this study were reported during a special conference presented through the Harvard University Graduate School of Education entitled “How Vision Impacts Literacy: An Educational Problem That Can Be Solved.” The conference focused on how functional vision problems can interfere with learning and the increased incidence of these problems among innercity children. It also dealt with the social, emotional and educational consequences of undetected and untreated vision problems. “Our research found that a child’s vision status is a moresignificant factor than poverty in predicting academic performance,” reported Dr. Maples. “This is sig- nificant because many vision problems that affect learning are easily treatable with glasses and/or vision therapy. Improved visual ability can lead to improved performancein the classroom.” Race and socioeconomic status are generally thought to be significant factors correlated with a child’s performancein the classroom. However, studies have also shown that vision problems are more prevalent in minority and low socioeconomic groups. “The results of this and other studies underscore the importance of every child being visually ready iv ———— For manychildren, vision therapy can help them overcome problems that might lead to poor academic performance. to learn,” stated Dr. Nancy Torger- son, president of the College of Optometrists in Vision Develop- ment (COVD). “Parents who see their child struggling in school should seek a comprehensive visual evaluation as early as possible,” Torgerson added. “The tragedy is that learning-related vision problems often go undiagnosed and untreated. Most often these problems are not related to how clearly the child can see the board at the front of the classroom, but how effectively their eyes and brain can acquire and process what they are seeing. Fortunately, effective treatment in the form of vision therapy and special glasses is available to give children the visual abilities they need to succeed.” COVD is embarking upon a nationwide public education proeram to raise parent and teacher awareness of learning-related vision problems and their treatment and to provide resources for locating developmental opto- metrists for local evaluation and treatment. Parents and teachers can call the COVD Information Hotline at 888-268-3770 or log onto the COVD Web site www.covd.org for more information.
